Unloading device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and improved method of unloading dry particulate matter in containers wherein the containers are positioned in an enclosed drum and rotated. Thereafter, a releasable spout mounted with the drum enables the dry particulate matter to be dumped or released from the drum without danger to workmen or dangerous spreading of the dust from the dry matter.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 743,763, filed Nov. 22, 1976.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, OBJECTS AND THE PRIOR ART

Briefly, the present invention relates to a new and improved method for handling dry particulate matter placed in barrels and the like. The barrels are positioned on pallets and placed in a cylindrical drum having a rack enclosure positioned therein for receiving the barrels and pallets. After insertion of the barrels into the rack frame, the drum is thereafter rotated which causes the dry particulate matter to fall into the interior surface of the drum. The drum is then tilted and a dump spout is opened for releasing of the dry particulate matter in desired places.

In the prior art, it is common in processing plants to dump dry particulate matter positioned in large barrels with such barrels being open to the atmosphere. When dumping occurs, the dry matter dust causes damage to the skin and eyes of workmen, and causes severe pollution problems. Such handling of dry particulate matter is often times very dangerous and is further expensive and requires long periods of time for handling of the barrels of dry particulate matter.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method for handling dry particulate matter.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an end view illustrating the doors mounted at one end of a cylindrical enclosure or drum;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the doors being open and the rack frame mounted inside the cylindrical enclosure or drum;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a cylindrical enclosure or drum illustrating the door for a spout positioned therewith;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the interior of the cylindrical enclosure or drum;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional front view of a cylindrical enclosure or drum of the present invention with the rack frame positioned therewith; and

FIG. 6 is an overall prospective view of the cylindrical enclosure or drum being tilted to dump the dry particulate material therefrom.

IN THE SPECIFICATION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention is generally designated by the number 10 and includes a cylindrical enclosure or drum 15 having longitudinal circular walls 16 and enclosed ends 17 and 18 forming such enclosure 15.

The end 17 includes a pair of doors 19 and 20 which can be opened as illustrated in FIG. 2 for access to the interior 25 of the enclosure 15. As illustrated, each of the doors 19 and 20 includes hinges 26 and a door latch 27 for latching the doors 19 and 20 when they are closed together as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, with the cylindrical enclosure generally illustrated at 10 in the upright position and positioned along its longitudinal axis, a floor 29 is provided for wood pallets 28 which may be conveniently placed in the opening 25 by suitable hydraulic or other type lifting devices as is well known in the art. As further illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, suitable containers or barrels C containing dry particulate matter and/or other dry material is positioned on the wood pallets and in the interior of the enclosure 25. The containers C and pallets 28 are maintained in position by a rack frame generally illustrated as 30 which includes upright arms 31 and cross bars 32 and upper cross arms 33 to form a suitable frame or cage for the containers C which thus prevents such containers from rolling about inside the enclosure 25 upon rotation of the cylindrical enclosure illustrated at 10 about its cylindrical longitudinal axis.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, an opening illustrated at 35 is positioned below the doors 19 and 20 and in the ends 17 to enable a hook or the like connected with a cable to be mounted with the U-frame 36 in a manner to be set forth hereinafter.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a suitable spout lid 40 is mounted with such end 18 at its upper end thereof when such cylindrical member 10 is positioned to receive the pallets 28 and container C in the upright position. The spout lid 40 is hingedly mounted and may be rotated to the position illustrated by the dotted lines 41 such that a spout means 42 formed of a suitable flexible tube (FIG. 6) may be unrolled for a manner and purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a suitable stop member 47 consists of cross bars 47A and 47B which are suitably welded adjacent the ends 17 and 18 to the exterior 16 of cylindrical member 10 and extend outwardly therefrom to be welded to each other to form such elbow or stop means 47.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of handles 50 suitably mounted with the end 17 above the doors 19 and 20 are provided for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

In the operation of the invention, a suitable pallet loading machine is used to pick up pallets 28 loaded with unlidded or open containers C which contain dry particulate chemicals, mixes, catalyst and the like to place such containers C and pallets 28 in the interior 25 of the cylindrical enclosure 15 with the pallets 28 being positioned on the floor 29. With the containers C in the enclosure 25, such containers are further encompassed and surrounded by the rack frame 30 including the upright vertical posts 31, cross bars 32 and upper cross arms 33. The doors 19 and 20 are then closed which prevents communication of the interior 25 with the atmosphere.

Thereafter, the cylindrical enclosure 10 is rotated about its longitudinal axis by gripping the handles 50 and rotating the enclosure 10 in the direction of the arrow 60 approximately 180° which turns the barrels C upside down to thereby dump such mix into the interior 25 of the enclosure 15. In this position, the upper cross arms 33 of the rack frame 30 prevent the containers C from dropping into the mixture and maintain the containers C within the rack frame enclosure 30. In such position, the door 40 has been rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 approximately 180° until it is at the bottom of the door 18 and the opening 35 and U-frame 36 have been rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 until such U-frame 36 is at the top of the door 17.

Thereafter, a suitable lifting means such as illustrated by the crane or lifting means L, utilizes a suitable cable C' to tilt one end of the enclosure 10 upwardly. The cable C' is inserted through the opening 35 and connected to the U-frame 36 which enables the container 10 to be tilted upwardly. The door 40 is then opened to the position illustrated by the dotted lines 41 to enable the particulate material to flow out of the interior 25 into a suitable receptacle R by unrolling the longitudinal, flexible tube member 42. The particulate matter illustrated by the dotted lines 62 thereafter falls into the receptacle R and out of the interior 25 of the enclosure 10. The foregoing description is illustrative only of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and such disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the invention or claims. 

I claim:
 1. A method of simultaneously unloading a plurality of barrels containing dry particulate matter, including the steps of:(a) placing the plurality of barrels on a pallet; (b) placing the pallet in a rack frame mounted in a cylindrical enclosure; (c) closing the cylindrical enclosure; (d) rotating the cylindrical enclosure about its longitudinal axis to thereby dump the dry particulate matter in the enclosure; (e) tilting one end of the enclosure by lifting it upwardly; (f) removing the dry particulate matter from the enclosure.
 2. The method of claim 1 including the step of rotating the enclosure back to its original position to enable the pallet and barrels to be removed.
 3. The method of claim 1 including the steps of:(a) opening a door adjacent the dumped dry particulate matter to enable the dry matter to spill out of the enclosure. 